GRIEZ HAS FINAL WORD
Wasteful Gunners see their big chance slip away as 10-man Atletico hit back
ARSENAL were dealt a huge blow after a defensive mix-up last night – despite playing for 80 minutes against 10 men.
Atletico Madrid were a man down in this Europa League semifinal after Sime Vrsaljko was sent off for a second yellow in the 10th minute following a nasty challenge on Alexandre Lacazette, who went on to put Arsenal ahead.
But Antoine Griezmann took advantage of two defensive mishaps to score a late away goal.
ARSENE WENGER says he is addicted to Russian Roulette – well, once again Arsenal managed to shoot themselves in the foot.
Winning 1-0 against 10 men having had the numerical advantage for most of last night’s game, they allowed Antoine Griezmann to score the vital away goal which leaves them hoping for a miracle in Spain if Wenger’s career is to end on a high note.
Nacho Monreal was guilty of keeping the France striker onside as he chased a hopeful punt forward, knocked aimlessly to relieve the pressure on the Spanish team’s defence.
Laurent Koscielny then failed to tackle him, David Ospina failed to block the danger and just as it looked as if Shkodran Mustafi could still save the day with a goalline clearance, he slipped and let Griezmann fire past him. Despite putting on their best show for most of the night – fans and players all fighting for the same cause for once – the tragedy of the finish was just so very, very Arsenal.
These last few days of his tenure are no longer a test for Wenger. He has already put everything he can into this project over the last 22 painstaking years. This is about Arsenal as a football club.
It may not have felt like it in the streets of north London ahead of the game as Gunners fans ambled rather than buzzed towards the game, but this was the biggest game in the history of the Emirates – a European semi-final no less. At least they were turning up. After weeks of empty seats, the Emirates was full ahead of kick-off and even if the feeble pre-match light show and shiny rustling mosaic gave the place the look of a school disco in a tin of empty Quality Street wrappers, the noise was electric.
And for once Arsenal were giving the impression that they
can be the truly big club they aspire to be. Pure atmosphere caused Jose Maria Gimenez to misplace his pass in the opening exchanges and Sime Vrsaljko to dive recklessly into Jack Wilshere in a bid to retrieve the situation.
Which is why, nine minutes in, when he made a spiteful studs up challenge on Alexandre Lacazette’s ankle, he was shown his second and not his first yellow card by referee Clement Turpin.
Atletico manager Diego Simeone was one of the initial front-runners when Wenger announced he was leaving last week. Thankfully he had already ruled himself out of the running or this would have been one of the worst job interviews ever. He lost the plot completely two minutes later in his calls for Hector Bellerin to be carded for a nothing foul and was sent to the stands by the French official to prowl ineffectually at the back of the directors’ box in his team’s hour of need.
It was a night for cool heads and that was the only thing lacking from Arsenal in the first half; the composure to take
advantage of the occasion and wilful self-destruction of their opponents by scoring.
Twice within a minute Lacazette had first hit the outside of the post and then forced a brilliant reaction save from Jan Oblak and the Atletico goalkeeper did well again to deny Danny Welbeck after a brilliant one-two with Wilshere.
From the corner, Koscielny sliced a great opportunity wide at the far post.
Eight minutes before the break there was a brief reminder that this was the same old Arsenal – Thomas allowed to run straight through the defence before Griezmann’s shot was beaten away by Ospina.
Atletico continued to make things harder for Arsenal, defending deep and denying them easy possession.
The Emirates, once raucous and buoyant, had turned nervy and impatient, thoughts already turning to how hard it would be in Madrid without anything to defend.
Then finally it clicked. It was Wilshere who provided the inch-perfect cross and there was Lacazette, jumping high on the edge of the six yard area, nodding the ball into the corner. “1-0 to the Arsenal!! chanted the relieved home fans; their familiar refrain. But it never felt like enough. The late equaliser simply proved it.